California law mandates that state officials complete an ethics training course every two years. The FPPC and the Attorney General's Office developed an online Ethics Orientation for State Officials to help them meet the requirement. In addition, under California's state lobbying disclosure law, every individual who registers as a lobbyist must periodically attend a lobbyist ethics orientation conducted by the Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee and the Senate Committee on Legislative Ethics. The course is conducted at least twice each year and there is a small fee to attend.

Largest Cities:

Los Angeles (3,694,820 - pop. 2000, U.S. Census Bureau)

The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission was created out of a comprehensive package of local ethics and campaign finance laws approved by voters in 1990. This independent Commission administers and enforces the law, while its staff administers mandated programs, conducts investigations, audits campaigns and meets with the community. In 2005, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued Executive Directive 2005-1 regarding "Ethics in Government" and circulated an "Ethics Pledge" to all General Managers. The City of Los Angeles also has a one-page Code of Ethics.

The San Diego Ethics Commission is governed by sections added to the San Diego Municipal Code in June of 2001. The Commission administers and enforces City ethics laws, conducts investigations and advises and educates City officials and the public about the laws. Individuals may file a Commission Complaint Form if they believe a City official has violated one or more of the City's governmental ethics laws.

In 1993 San Francisco voters amended the City Charter to establish an Ethics Commission. The San Francisco Ethics Commission serves the public, city employees and officials and candidates for public office through education and enforcement of ethics laws. Duties include auditing campaign finance disclosure statements, lobbyist regulation, investigations of complaints, and enforcement education and training on pertinent local laws.

Largest Counties:

Other links of interest:

Founded in 1955, the Institute for Local Government is the research affiliate of the League of California Cities. The Institute develops tools and raises awareness on key issues to help local agencies better serve the State's communities.

The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University works with students and faculty, members of the community and public to approach ethical issues more effectively in teaching, research, and action. Their website provides articles, cases, briefings, and dialogue in all fields of applied ethics.